The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rohr

  • CAF Awards: Musa, Iwobi, Ighalo, Oshoala, Rohr nominated

    Super Eagles trio Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi and Odion Ighalo have been named among the list of 34 players in the running for the CAF 2018 African player of the year award.

    Other big-name nominees announced by the Confederation of African Football on Friday include Egypt international Mohamed Salah and Liverpool’s team-mate Sadio Mane of Senegal.

    Also on the list are Mehdi Benatia of Morocco, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Riyad Mahrez of Algeria.

    The list will be cut to three finalists and the winner will be announced on January 8 in Dakar, Senegal.

    Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is also among the nominees for the 2018 CAF Youth Player of the Year award, while reigning African Player of the year, Asisat Oshoala will compete again for the crown against with her international teammates Desire Oparanozie, Francisca Ordega and Onome Ebi.

    Super Falcons Coach, Thomas Dennerby is among the five nominees for the Women’s Coach of the Year, while Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr is on the list of Men’s Coach of the Year award.

    The winners for the African Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year will be decided by CAF Technical & Development Committee, media experts, legends, coaches of the quarter-finalists of the Caf Champions League and Caf Confederation Cup, Coaches plus captains of the national teams of the 54 member associations.

    For other categories namely Youth Player of the Year, Men’s Coach of the Year, Women’s Coach of the Year, Men’s National Team of the Year and Women’s National Team of the Year, they will be elected by Caf  Technical & Development Committee, media experts, legends, coaches of the quarter-finalists of the Caf Champions League and Caf Confederation Cup.

     

     

    African Player of the year list:

    1. Abdelmoumene Djabou (Algeria & ES Setif)
    2. Ahmed Gomaa (Egypt & El Masry)
    3. Ahmed Musa (Nigeria & Al-Nassr )
    4. Alex Iwobi (Nigeria & Arsenal)
    5. Andre Onana (Cameroon & Ajax)
    6. Anis Badri (Tunisia & Esperance)
    7. Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco & Hebei China Fortune)
    8. Ben Malango (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
    9. Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
    10. Fanev Andriatsima (Madagascar & Clermont Foot)
    11. Franck Kom (Cameroon & Esperance)
    12. Jacinto Muondo Dala ‘Gelson’ (Angola & Primeiro de Agosto)
    13. Hakim Ziyech (Morocco & Ajax)
    14. Idrissa Gueye (Senegal & Everton)
    15. Ismail Haddad (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
    16. Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele (DR Congo & AS Vita)
    17. Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli)
    18. Mahmoud Benhalib (Morocco & Raja Club Athletic)
    19. Mehdi Benatia (Morocco & Juventus)
    20. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
    21. Moussa Marega (Mali & Porto)
    22. Naby Keita (Guinea & Liverpool)
    23. Odion Ighalo (Nigeria & Changchun Yatai, Nigeria)
    24. Percy Tau (South Africa & Union Saint-Gilloise)
    25. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Arsenal)
    26. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)
    27. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
    28. Taha Khenissi (Tunisia & Esperance)
    29. Thomas Partey (Ghana & Atletico Madrid)
    30. Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia & Saint-Étienne)
    31. Walid Soliman (Egypt & Ahly)
    32. Wilfried Zaha (Cote d’Ivoire & Crystal Palace)
    33. Yacine Brahimi (Algeria & Porto)
    34. Youcef Belaili (Algeria & Esperance)

     

    WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

    Ghana

    Cameroon

    Mali

    Nigeria

    South Africa

     

    MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

    Guinea Bissau

    Kenya

    Madagascar

    Mauritania

    Uganda

    Zimbabwe

     

    YOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR

    Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmunmd)

    Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria & Leicester City)

    Andre Onana (Cameroon & AJax)

    Ismaila Sarr (Senegal & Rennes)

    Mahmoud Benhalib (Morocco & Raja Club Athletic)

    Franck Kessie (Cote d’Ivoire & AC Milan)

     

    WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

    Bruce Mwape (Zambia)

    Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

    Joseph Brian Ndoko (Cameroon)

    Saloum Houssein (Mali)

    Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria)

     

    MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

    Corentin Martins (Mauritania)

    Gernot Rohr (Nigeria)

    Florent Ibenge (AS Vita & DR Congo)

    Aliou Cisse (Senegal)

    Juan Carlos Garrido (Raja Club Athletic)

    Moine Chaabani (Esperance)

    Nicolas Dupuis (Madagascar)

    Patrice Carteron (Al Ahly)

    Rachid Taoussi (ES Sétif)

    Herve Renard (Morocco)

     

    WOMEN’S AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

    Abdulai Mukarama (Ghana & Northern Ladies)

    Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Dilian Quanjian)

    Bassira Toure (Mali & AS Mande)

    Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Houston Dash)

    Desire Oparanozia (Nigeria & Guingamp)

    Elizabeth Addo (Ghana & Seattle Reign)

    Francisca Ordega (Nigeria & Washington Spirit)

    Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene (Cameroon & CSKA Moskow)

    Gaelle Enganamouit (Cameroon & Avaldenes)

    Janine Van Wyk (South Africa & Houston Dash)

    Marlyse Ngo Ndoumbouk (Cameroon & Nancy-Lorraine)

    Onome Ebi (Nigeria & Hekan Huisanhang)

    Portia Boakye (Ghana & Djurgardens)

    Raissa Feudjio (Cameroon & Aland United)

    Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi & Jiangsu Suning)

    Attachments area

  • I didn’t want Moses to quit the Eagles – Rohr

    Super Eagles technical adviser Gernot Rohr has stated that he did his best to ensure that Chelsea winger Victor Moses did not quit the national team after Nigeria’s poor outing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but his efforts ended in futility.

    Victor Moses on August 15, 2018 called time on his Super Eagles career with reasons of focusing on his club, career and his young family as well as allowing the next generation of Super Eagles stars step up and florish in their various positions.

    Gernot Rohr replying questions from football lovers across the world at the Peak Breakfast with Rohr organised for Sport editors in Lagos said: “I tried to convince him that it was not the best time to retire but he said he wanted to focus on his club career. I hope he will get an opportunity to play in Chelsea or with another club.

    The Franco-German tactician also stated that the door is not closed to the versatile player. “I hope he will change his mind because he is only 27-years-old. That is too young to retire.”

    Victor Moses, who helped Nigeria win her first Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 2013 after 19 years and also featured at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, has had a difficult time at Chelsea since the arrival of Maurizio Sarri playing just twice in the ongoing English Premier League.

  • Injuries, suspensions offer opportunities for others, says Rohr

    Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has lamented the injuries and suspension that has robbed him of four of his regulars for Saturday’s crucial 2019 AFCON qualifier against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa but is comforted that the situation has presented opportunities for some other performers to step onto the runway.

    First choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, wingback Abdullahi Shehu and forward Odion Ighalo – the top goalscorer in the 2019 AFCON qualifying race with six goals – are not in South Africa as a result of injury, while lion –hearted midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is suspended after cards against Seychelles and Libya.

    “Yes, we have a number of injuries and one suspension. But we cannot continue to talk about that. We must look at the personnel with us now and see the situation as an opportunity for them to step up and prove what they can do.

    “I am happy we have a young team determined to achieve. Everyone here is good enough to represent Nigeria and they will go in there and do the job.”

    Nigeria’s 23 –man squad for this game includes former U-17 World Cup winners Kelechi Iheanacho, Isaac Success, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze – who, amongst them, must step up for the main striker’s mantle in the forced absence of Ighalo.

    There are also France –based Samuel Kalu (good outings away to Seychelles and at home to Libya) and Henry Onyekuru who plays in Turkey, not to mention Musa, Nigeria’s highest goalscorer ever at the FIFA World Cup.

    Arsenal FC of England’s impresario Alex Iwobi knows how to find the net, as Zambia would testify, and Spain –based Moses Simon is a tricky customer on his day.

    While Rohr has to deal with the absence of four regulars, Bafana Bafana Coach Stuart Baxter is not better off, as Dean Furman, Bongani Zungu, Keegan Dolly, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Bradlet Grobler and Kamohelo Mokotjo are not available.

    While Percy Tau and Thulani Serero are real threats, Tokelo Rantie – who scored three of South Africa’s last five goals against Nigeria – is out of the picture having been sacked in Turkey and presently nursing a new career as a farmer.

  • Rohr eyes another ‘ticket with a match to spare’

    Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr is hoping for a second feat qualifying ticket Nigeria’s Super Eagles for a major championship with a match to spare.

    The former Germany defender equalled a 20-year-old record when he led the three-time African champions to earn a slot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals after a 1-0 defeat of Zambia in Uyo on October 10, 2017 scripted Nigeria on the roster for Russia ahead of final matchday.

    Frenchman Philippe Troussier led Nigeria to qualify for the 1998 World Cup, following the defeat of Kenya’s Harambee Stars in Lagos, with the away match to Guinea at hand. But qualifications for 2002, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup competitions were achieved on the final day of the respective series.

    Rohr savoured accolades from far and near for his accomplishment, and the Franco-German appears to love it and wants more, with the Super Eagles looking good to earn a ticket to the 2019 Africa Cup finals ahead of the final day of the series.

    Nigeria won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title but then failed to qualify for the last two championships.

    Victory over South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday will earn Rohr worthwhile space in Nigerian Football’s history, alongside a young, ambitious squad that has grown in confidence after featuring at the World Cup and winning all three competitive games after that, scoring 10 goals and conceding only two.

    “Our mission in Johannesburg is simple: qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. We are not thinking of anything else. We want the ticket in our pocket before the final matchday,” Rohr said in Asaba on Tuesday evening.

    The Eagles are indignant following South Africa’s audacity in flying to Uyo to earn a 2-0 win on Matchday 1, and apart from the unspoken yearning for revenge, the quiet but fierce contention between Nigeria and South Africa in other spheres, has lifted Saturday’s match to higher stakes.

    Ahmed Musa and teammates, as well as Nigerian ball fans, have not forgotten how the Bafana stopped the Eagles from qualifying for the 2015 AFCON, after a 2-2 draw in Uyo on 19th November 2014 on a day the Eagles needed the slimmest of wins.

    The Bafana Bafana has much to worry about. Victories over Seychelles away and Libya home-and-away has catapulted Nigeria to top place in a pool the Bafana led comfortably, and should Nigeria win in Soweto on Saturday, the heat would be on the 1996 champions as they could be torpedoed for the second ticket by the ferocious Mediterranean Knights of Libya.

  • Rohr regrets Ndidi’s absence

    Ahead of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa, Gernot Rohr is keeping a close watch on the Super Eagles’ players and has hinted that he will name a roster comprising 23 ‘strongest players’.

    On the back of three consecutive wins, the Super Eagles sit at the summit of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group and even a point from their last two games will see them qualify for next year’s tournament in Cameroun.

    ”As always, we will follow our players and their performances for their clubs until the next international break comes around,” Rohr said to Kick Off Magazine.

    ”Everyone is back at their clubs now and will play their games, and then we will once again try to select the 23 strongest players.

    ”Unfortunately, we will miss one of our strongest ones in Wilfred Ndidi after he picked up a [second] yellow card and is now suspended.

    ”He is a very important player for us, but we will try to make the strongest selection, which is always based on the form of our players.

    ”Of course, we also consider how they played and trained with us in camp.”

  • Rohr inspects Keshi Stadium

    Super Eagles Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr is in Asaba to inspect the Stephen Keshi Stadium, to see if the venue could host international matches, according to NFF president Amaju Pinnick.

    Pinnick told the NFF Annual General Assembly in Asaba on Wednesday, that besides watching Aiteo Cup final between Kano Pillars and Enugu Rangers, Rohr was in Asaba to see if the Stephen Keshi Stadium could host Eagles matches.

    The stadium has already staged the African Athletics Championships earlier this year. The Eagles have mainly played their matches at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

  • Rohr dismisses ‘Mikel retiring’ talks

    Captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria John Obi Mikel will be in action when Nigeria takes on Libya in back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers according to the coach of the team Gernot Rohr.

    Most Nigerians feared the worst when the Tianjin Teda midfielder asked to be excused from Nigeria’s game against Seychelles, as it came at a time when his former Chelsea teammate Victor Moses announced his retirement from the team.

    However, any talks of Mikel retiring from the team has been laid to rest by Rohr, who confirmed that the captain will be in the team for the game against Libya alongside some other players who were absent for the game against Seychelles.

    “By the 10th of October, we will recover our injured players like (William) Ekong, like Ola Aina, Obi Mikel will be fit also”, the coach said after the game against Seychelles.

    Meanwhile, former Super Eagles’ star and current head coach of the Tanzania national team, Emmanuel Amuneke, will be the guest of FIFA at this month’s Best Awards after getting an invitation to grace the event in London, AOIFootball.com reports.

    Amuneke, who recently led Tanzania to an impressive 1-1 draw in Ouagadougou against Uganda in the 2019 AFCON qualifiers and was part of the Technical Committee Study Group at the World Cup in Russia, will also attend a stakeholders meeting on the eve of the ceremony.

    The meeting is scheduled to be held on September 23rd, a day before the Best Awards and would have in attendance the FIFA President, the Russia 2018 World Cup Technical Study Group members and all national team coaches under FIFA.

    Amuneke said after his invitation that it was an honour for him to be invited as he continues to work to ensure he contributes his quota to the development of football worldwide.

  • SEYCHELLES BATTLE: Rohr picks 28 for Sept 7 clash

    Nigeria’s senior soccer side’s manager Gernot Rohr has invited 28 players to prosecute the country’s September 7 Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier against Seychelles in Victoria.

    A breakdown of the 28-man squad released on Friday showed that 24 players were listed as regulars, while four players were listed as stand-by, comprising Uche Agbo who plays for Standard Liege, Belgium, Eze Stephen who stars with Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Musa Mohammed starring for Hnk Gorica, Croatia and Blessing Eleke.

    The 24 invited players are goalkeepers Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC) and Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa).

    Eight defenders were invited including Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Semi Ajayi (Rotterdam United, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain) and Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany).

    Rohr picked six midfielders comprising Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Kelechi Nwakali (FC Porto, Portugal) and Joel Obi (AC Chievo Verona, Italy)

    Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia) leads the list of strikers which include Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone FC, Italy); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England) and Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France).

    Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor revealed on Friday that the invited players are expected to fly directly to Seychelles, arriving on Monday, 3rd September, while the one player (goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa) and team officials travelling from Nigeria will fly into Victoria on Sunday, 2nd September.

    All three points in the Matchday 2 encounter are important for the Super Eagles, having lost the opener to the qualifying campaign at home to South Africa 14 months ago.

    Meanwhile, Rohr revealed that he has sent his employers the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to list recuperating goalkeeper Carl Ikeme among his backroom staff as a goalkeeper trainer which he hopes the body will accept.

    The manager disclosed further that Ikeme won’t be able to accompany the team to Victoria because it is a 10-hour long trip which he cannot contend with. But he was confident that Ikeme will be able to join the team in its subsequent matches.

  • Rohr inspects Ahmadu Bello Stadium

    Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, on Wednesday, inspected the newly –renovated Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna as preparations begin in earnest for the remaining matches of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series. Rohr will on Friday this week release his list of invited players for the away clash with Seychelles.

    Nigeria plays away to Seychelles in Victoria on Matchday 2 of the series on Friday, September 7 and must then entertain Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in Nigeria on Matchday 3 in the second week of October.

    The tactician checked out the facilities at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in company with NFF’s 2nd Vice President/LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Super Eagles’ Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor.

    Officials confirmed to thenff.com that former Germany defender Rohr will on Friday this week, release his list of invited players for the away clash with Seychelles.

    After hosting Libya on 10th October, the three-time African champions will play away to the Knights three days later, before flying to South Africa for the return against the Bafana Bafana on 17th November. The last match of the series will see the Eagles hosting Seychelles on 22nd March 2019.

    In the opener to the series in June 2017, the Eagles lost 0-2 to the Bafana Bafana in Uyo. The finals of the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations finals are scheduled to be staged in Cameroon next year summer.

  • Rohr to inspect Stephen Keshi Stadium

    The crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations home tie between Nigeria and Libya will be played inside the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, if Super Eagles’ manager Gernot Rohr approves the pitch for the October 10 clash, NationSport has been reliably informed.

    Interestingly, Rohr is expected in the country today where he will continue discussions with eggheads of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) this week. At the meeting, Rohr will be told to pick a date when he will be shown around the Keshi stadium in Asaba and other places which are important towards hosting matches of such standard.

    In fact, NFF chiefs hope to address a press conference where they will unveil their plans for the country, ahead of the busy schedules the body has, beginning with the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Seychelles and Nigeria in Victoria on September 7.

    Nigeria trails in her group, having been beaten by Bafana Bafana 0-2 last year inside the Nest of Champions Stadium, Uyo, making the country’s next two matches against Seychelles and Libya, must win fixtures, if the Eagles hope to get one of the group’s two qualification tickets.